Shakespeare Fans discussion

Act 5 can happen here....

Falstaff speaks to Prince Henry about honour at the end of scene 1 and finishes his speech with " honour is a mere scrutcheon".

Scrutcheon is a shield I believe. And you carry your shield on your arm. Reminds of 'wear your heart on your sleeve'.
I think Falstaff might commenting on the dishonourable actions of the rebel leaders in particular; that they will lead so many to their deaths for their (the leaders' honour).
And also I think he's suggesting that the so called age of chivalry is out of date and not for the common man.

JamesD wrote: "Falstaff speaks to Prince Henry about honour at the end of scene 1 and finishes his speech with " honour is a mere scrutcheon".

Scrutcheon is a shield I believe. And you carry your shield on your ..."
Oh, I thought Falstaff was questioning the value of honor, itself; especially when it has little regard for actual life (his, in particular!).


Overall, it's a gruesomely violent battle, which is difficult to present with the usual grace with which we're accustomed to view Shakespeare's pageantry. Hal, in particular, shows us a ferocity hitherto concealed, or at least, unexpressed until these battlefield scenes; relieving the king of his would-be vanquisher, the blood-thirsty Douglas, who he sends scurrying for cover. Then, of course, his penultimate battle and victory over Hotspur, which the 1979 BBC film presents as particularly savage, yet "honorable" in Harry's sending off:

PRINCE
For worms, brave Percy. Fare thee well, great heart.
Ill-weaved ambition, how much art thou shrunk!
When that this body did contain a spirit,
A kingdom for it was too small a bound,
But now two paces of the vilest earth
Is room enough. This earth that bears thee dead
Bears not alive so stout a gentleman.
If thou wert sensible of courtesy,
I should not make so dear a show of zeal.
But let my favors hide thy mangled face;
He covers Hotspur’s face.
And even in thy behalf I’ll thank myself
For doing these fair rites of tenderness.
Adieu, and take thy praise with thee to heaven.
Thy ignominy sleep with thee in the grave,
But not remembered in thy epitaph.
5.4 90-103

It's precisely this "honor" that Falstaff strives ardently to avoid. What's worse, though, is that he bears the honor of someone else on his back for personal credit. He's a thorough rogue who can't but elicit amusement even from Hal, who knows better than anyone else the extent of Falstaff's disingenuity.